Dr. Andries botha, one of Grimshaw, Alberta's three doctors, is
planning to achieve a personal dream and put the PEace Country on
the map by cycling coast to coast, more than 7,000 km, in 20 days
this summer. His journey begins June 21, 1997 in Vancouver, British
Columbia and takes him through Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Ontario, Quebec and the maritime provinces to St. John's,
Newfoundland, on or about July 10.

Botha was born and raised in South Africa and first came to
Canada when he was invited by a friend to practice Sport's
Medicine in Inuvik, North West Territories. Botha had never heard
of Inuvik but he agreed to go there for a short time. He stayed
there three years and has been in Canada ever since. He said that
the summers, with their constant sunlight, were more difficult
than you might think. People would come to him for treatment at
all hours of the night and no one ever wanted to sleep. In the
winter he said it is just the opposite, people forget to get up.
The winters don't get too much colder than here but the cold
spells last longer, according to Botha.

After his time up north, Botha lived in Edson for two years. It
was there that he met John Bright who has become a close friend
and will be accompanying Botha in the motor home as he rides
across Canada.

Botha found Grimshaw very welcoming when he moved here, even
though the only person he knew was Dr. Wouter Dehaeck, another of
Grimshaw's doctors. Dehaeck and Dr. Francois Klassen, Grimshaw's
third doctor, are also from South Africa. Keeping doctors in
rural, northern communities has proved to be difficult but
Grimshaw is fortunate to have three doctors who have been settled
here for awhile now.

Botha noted the differences in climate among the places he's
lived and said that a person can adapt to anything, it's a matter
of attitude. Having been in Canada for several years now, he
isn't sure he could ever live in south Africa again.
"You can't belong two places," he said, adding that when you
leave a place everything changes, including you.

Over the years, Botha has run more than 40 marathons, including
nine 90 km races, he has cycled across South Africa, across the
USA in 34 days without assistance, from Seattle to Los Angeles
and the 500 km from Grimshaw to Edmonton last year as a
fund raiser for fitness equipment for the hospital. Once he also
cycled 180 km from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk on an ice road in -25
degrees Celsius temperatures in a single day. This year(1997) he was
the Grimshaw Huskies Hockey Club team doctor. He was also the
team doctor for the South African team at the 100 km World
Championship road run in Japan in 1994 and Holland in 1996/97.

All of his past bike trips have been leading up to this year's
Extreme Challenge of crossing Canada in 20 days. Making this trip
will fulfill a personal dream for the doctor and he also wants to
use the trip to promote fitness and health style changes to
prevent and fight alcohol, drug and cigarette abuse in society.
His other goal is to put the Peace Country, and specifically
Grimshaw, on the map, to increase awareness of our region in the
rest of Canada.

To make the trip in 20 days, Botha will have to ride an average
of 350 km a day, that's twelve on the bike plus breaks. He plans
to start at 5 a.m. and ride for an hour or so before breakfast
then continue on throughout the day, taking breaks every two or
three hours to rest and eat, and stop at about 9 p.m. In order to
keep up the tremendous pace, Botha will need to take in 8-10,000
a day. On his ride to Edmonton he said he didn't lose any weight
because a person's body adapts to the stress of the long ride by
hording energy to protect itself. To fight this tendency, Botha
will be eating Access BArs which increase energy by helping the
body to break down fat.

Botha is really appreciative of his friend Bright for agreeing to
drive the motor home. Besides driving, Bright will be preparing
all the food, washing Botha's clothes, taking care of any
business or paperwork along the way and planning the route.
Bright will stay in contact with Botha as he rides through some
kind of radio device. Bright will also be the one who motivates
Botha when he down and encourages him to get back on the bike for
another day. Botha knows how hard it will be for Bright to give
up his job and family for month and that there will be times
when his friend is bored, just sitting in the motor home waiting.
Botha will also have to fight boredom as he pedals his way
through the prairie or on long stretches of highway. He said it's
is a tought thing to stay focused and keep to an optimum pace
where you are spending too much energy or slowing down too much.
He knows that if he loses focus or concentration he could be
injured by a fall or by passing vehicles.

Botha is not worried about travelling through the mountains or all
the other hills he will ahve to face, he is more concerned with
injuries, wind, traffic and semi trucks that can blow you right
off the road as they pass by.

Botha's training included riding 50 km before work and 80 to 100
km after work everyday for months. When the weather didn't
cooperate, he trained indoors on a stationary bike.

Promoting healthy lifestyles in very important to Botha. He knows
how difficult it is to motivate people to change and that they
get discouraged very quickly when they don't see results. The new
Lifestyle for Health program at the Grimshaw Berwyn and District
Hospital was designed to help people who want to make those
changes. He said that society's way of dealing with fitness and
health is to provide a quick fix or a pill and it doesn't work.
He said a person has to believe in him or herself, set goals and
change his or her metal attitude. He also talked about preventing
people from ever starting to use alcohol, drugs or cigarettes. He
said that once they start, only ten per cent of people ever quit
permanently.

Botha figures the trip across Canada will cost about $15,000,
including as much $2,500 just for gas for the motor home. He is
hoping that donations will cover most of his costs and has talked
to a sport shop in Edson about providing him with a bike at
cost. He will also need to ahve extra tires, an extra bike and
lots of extra clothing along. Botha plans to meet with the mayors
of Edmonton, Vancouver, Ottawa and St. John's either during or
after his trip. Bright will be providing updates to CFRN TV, 'YL
Country Radio and the Mile Zero News as they make their way
across the country. To make his sponsors feel more like they are
a part of his trip, Botha is offering the chance for donors to
guess his finishing time and win two tickets to Las Vegas
courtesy of Canadian Airlines.

from the June 18th, 1997 issue of the Mile Zero News.....

Dr. Botha off today!!

Dr. Botha's trip begins TODAY at the Peace River Airport with an
enthusiastic Peace Country sendoff! Get yourself down to the
airport at 1 p.m. today to wish our bike-riding doctor well on
his impending 7,000 km journey across Canada. Botha is still
trying to raise the rest of his support money - he is only about
halfway there - so if you've been meaning to help out, this will
be a good opportunity! Botha will be in Edmonton for a couple of
days and will have a send off there as well before making his way
to Vancouver for the start of his Coast to Coast Can-cycle
Challenge. Watch for weekly updates on his progress in the MZN.

1. To promote fitness and health style change to prevent and fight
alcohol, drug and cigarette abuse in Society.2. To promote and make people in the rest of Canada aware of the
Peace Region.3. To achieve a personal dream.

Dr. Botha left Vancouver on Saturday June 21, 1997. He is planning
on travelling the 7000 Km distance in 20 days. This means an average
of 350 Km per day.

Travel Reports *****
Day 1 -

He was not able to start his ride until Monday morning because of extreme
heavy rains in Vancouver.

On Monday morning he dipped his Bike wheel in English Bay and began his
ride. The first day he bicycled 270 km with an average of 30 km per hour.
He had one flat tire but other than that all went well. He spent the night
near Merritt, BC.

He reported that there were heavy head winds and mostly uphill. all is
well and he is probably looking forward to the time when it will be down
hill with tail winds.

They have CB's with them and are monitoring chanel 19.

Day 4:-
Hi,

Today Dr. Botha traveled from Golden, B.C. to Calgary for a total of 270
km. He reports that he is feeling very fit and is planning on leaving at 4
AM tomorrow morning.

Day ???
Subject: Hi
Return-Path:

Dear Mr. Nystrom,
I have an update about my father for you. He spent the night in
Moosejaw last night and had planned to go about cycling this morning as
usual. However at the moment severe weather and storms has forced him to
stop. The motor home will stay in Moosejaw, as will he, for the entire
day and night. They will not count today for it is impossible for him to
cycle, especially safely, under such severe conditions. Note that he
will not gain any time nor will the motor home move to another town.

Speaking with him on the phone this morning at seven, he has
reported that he is feeling quite good, yet disappointed at the
momentary setback.
Natasha Botha

Day 7:

Dear Mr. Nystrom,

My father is now cycling again. He is by the Manitoba border at
the present time. The severe weather has not yet totally passed. The
wind is from the front. As you can imagine, he is having a difficult
time where the weather is concerned. As for personal well-being he is
feeling well and is in good spirits. My grandfather, John E. Cowley,
(My mother's father) has flown in from South Africa to be with him and
to help out where he can. He will be a major source of support for my
dad.

Talk to you again soon,

Natasha Botha

Day 8:

Hi Mr. Nystrom!
Things are going well with my father. The wind is coming from
the west which is in his favour. By 8:45 AM he had already cycled 106
km. I am not sure of his exact location. He reports that he is feeling
good and I have noticed that he has a very positive outlook on how this
trip will end.

I'll report more as it comes in,

Natasha Botha

Hi,

Latest update re Extreme Challenge
Date: Sat. 05 Jul 1997

Today Dr. Botha is expected to pass through Thunder Bay, Ont. His progress
was somewhat impeded by head winds and two flat tires

Other than that all is going well.

Day ???
Dear Mr. Nystrom,
I am sorry about not giving you very much information these last
few days. Just a second ago I found out that one e-mail I sent you about
my father's progress didn't go through and was sent back. The
information I am receiving is rather sketchy and limited.

My dad is feeling postive. His knee still is not doing all that
well but it has improved somewhat. He is not sure if he will cycle
tomorrow due to his knee injury.

We will keep you posted, as we too, are very interested in his
progress.

Thanks,
Natasha Botha

Hi,
I am very sorry to have to report to you that Dr. Botha had to
discontinue his Coast to Coast cycle ride, because of excruciating pain in
one of his knees.

He is very disappointed, but says he is already planning another attempt
next year starting at Vancouver.

He wishes to thank every one who has supported him on his venture,
all the help has been greatly appreciated.

His wife Cezanne with their two children Natasha and Arno will join
The Doctor and Mrs Botha's father Mr John E. Cowley in Ottawa. They are
planning on taking a bit of a holiday before returning to Grimshaw later
this month.

Roy Nystrom

Messages for the Doctor *****

Greetings,

Just a note to wish all the best (sunshine and tailwinds!) to Dr. Botha.
Being an ex-Albertan (Grande Prairie), I can't help but feel a bit of
patriotic pride as I follow Dr. Botha's trek across the continent. If he
needs a place to stay or anything as he comes through Montréal, I would be
happy to accommodate. (Please note, however, that I may not be in the city
during our "construction holiday": July 12- 27.)